From the Archbishop's Desk

May 2008

‘Jesus himself drew near, and joined them as they walked.’ Those words begin a hymn about the road to Emmaus. Walking is the gift of these coming weeks for us. That walk on the road to Emmaus is both a story fulfilled at every Mass and also the spirit of the walks on coming Sundays. First, the two on the road to Emmaus were discussing all that happened. We bring to every Mass all that we have been discussing on our road; hopes and fears, joys and sorrows; stories and longings. The same can be true of our walks together this summer: a time to talk over our Catholic story, its sharing in joys and sorrow, in fears and longing. But as at every Mass so too on our walks we want the Lord’s own word to be the light by which we understand, evaluate, refine our story: see what memories are wholesome, which ones need healing; recognise which desires are for life; which ones need to be refined by the Holy Spirit.

And especially on the walk of Pentecost we will talk over together with sisters and brothers in Christ our ecumenical journey: its joys and sorrows too; longings fulfilled, and longings still far from fulfilment. But above all on that day shall our focus be on the Lord himself: unity is the fruit of his dying, the object of his prayer; perhaps we are too busy to accept what he has accomplished and is giving. Only the Lord can make our hearts burn within us and show us how to recognise him in the breaking of the bread.

13.04.08 Pastoral Letter Sunday 13 April 2008.mp3 (mp3)

Bishop's Engagements · Archbishop's Letters and Homilies

Archbishop Kelly backs Cardinal in Embryology Bill debate.

The Most Reverend Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool, has this morning in his Easter sermon backed Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor and Cardinal Keith O’Brien in the debate over the Embryology Bill.

Speaking at the Solemn Mass of Easter Day in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, the Archbishop said:

‘That freedom we now proclaim by renewing those promises, that echo the day when in the waters of baptism we were born again to become children of God. a yes to life; a yes to life fittingly spelt out by Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor and Cardinal Keith O'Brien this Easter; a yes to the Holy Spirit in our hearts; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.’

There were over 1,000 in the congregation for the Mass which was televised live on BBC1.

23.03.08 Archbishop Kelly's Homily at the Solemn Mass of Easter 2008

View the Annual Archdiocese Report 2006 here

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